Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
