The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
