The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
