The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
