The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.