The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
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 no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
