President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
