The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
