Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
