The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
