The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
