The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
