President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
