The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
