The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
