Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
