The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
