The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
