Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
