President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
