President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
