The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
