The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
