President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
