The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
