President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including 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 laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
