The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
