Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
