Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
