The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
