The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
