The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
