President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
