The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
