President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
