President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
