Colombian president cautions Trump against provoking conflict with military threats

The President of Colombia has issued a stern warning to Donald Trump, cautioning that aggressive threats of military action could awaken the jaguar. This comes after Trump suggested that any nation producing drugs destined for the United States could be subject to military strikes.

During a cabinet meeting, Trump stated that attacks on land targets in Venezuela would "begin very soon." He also indicated that countries involved in drug production, including Colombia, could be considered potential targets. Colombia has historically been a key partner in the U.S. anti-narcotics campaign.

In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on social media, Threatening our sovereignty is tantamount to declaring war; do not jeopardize two centuries of diplomatic ties.

Petro also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Colombia, the world's largest cocaine producer, to witness the government's efforts to dismantle drug labs. Come with me, and Ill show you how they are destroyed, one lab every 40 minutes, he stated.

Since August, tensions in South America have intensified, reaching levels not seen since the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama. The Pentagon has deployed a significant naval presence with nearly 15,000 troops near Venezuela, and previous strikes on small boats alleged to carry drugs have resulted in over 80 deaths.

Trump emphasized that land-based operations would also commence soon, noting, We know the routes they take, where they live, and we will act accordingly. He confirmed that these measures would not be limited to Venezuela, specifically mentioning Colombia as a cocaine-producing nation whose exports to the U.S. could make it a target.

The U.S.-Colombia alliance in anti-drug operations has been strained since Petro, Colombias first leftist president and a former guerrilla, took office. Tensions arose early in the year when Petro refused entry to American planes carrying deported Colombians, insisting on their dignified treatment. Although he later reversed this decision, relations worsened after Petro participated in a pro-Palestine protest in New York following the United Nations General Assembly, urging U.S. troops to resist certain orders. He has also criticized U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug-carrying boats, which led the State Department to revoke his visa.

Trump has accused Petro, without evidence, of being involved in drug trafficking and of making narcotics production a central part of Colombias economy. The latest threat coincided with Trumps pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernndez, who had been convicted of drug trafficking and corruption and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Hernndez had been implicated in creating a major cocaine route to the United States and turning Honduras into a cocaine hub.

At the cabinet meeting, Trump described the investigation into Hernndez as a Biden horrible witch-hunt and questioned the fairness of long prison sentences for presidents linked to drug activity.

Author: Ethan Caldwell