The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," 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 engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
