The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
