The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
