President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
