President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
