President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
