President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
