The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
