Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
