The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
