The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
