President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
