The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
