President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
