President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
