Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
