The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
