The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
