The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
