Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
