The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
