President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.