The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
