President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.