President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
