President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
