The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
