The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
