Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
