The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
