Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital 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 weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
