President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
