The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
