The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
