Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
