The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
