President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
