President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
