The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
