The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
