The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
