The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
