The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
