The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
