The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
