President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
