The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
