President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
