Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
