President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, 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 staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
