The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
