President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
