The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
