Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
