Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
