The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
