President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
