Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
