Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
