The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
