Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
