The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
