The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
