President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
