Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains 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 Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
