The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
