The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade 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), the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
