President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
