The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
