President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
