The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
