President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
