The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
