Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
