Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
