Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
