President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
