The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
