The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
