President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
