Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
