Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck 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 added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
