The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
