Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
