The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
