President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
