The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
