President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
