The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for 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 neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved 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 presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
