The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.