The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
