The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
