President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
