The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
