The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
