The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks 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 if they detain the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
