The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
