The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
