The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
