President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
