The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
