The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
