The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
