The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
