The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
