The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
