The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
