The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
