The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
