President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
