President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
