The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
