The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
