Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
