The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
