Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally 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 came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
