The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
