Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
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 Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
