The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
