President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
