President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
