The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
