Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
