The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
