The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
