The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
