President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
