The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
