The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
