The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
