The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
