The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
