The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
