President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
