The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
