The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
