The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
