The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
