President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
