The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
