President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
