The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
