The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
