Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
