The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
