Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
