The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
