Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
