President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
