Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
