President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
