Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
