The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
