Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
