The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
