Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
