The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
