The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
