The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
