President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
