The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
