President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
