Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter 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. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
