The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
