The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
While 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 connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
