Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
