The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
