President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
