Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
