The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
