The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
