The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
