The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
