The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
