President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
