The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
