President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
