The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
