The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
