The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
