Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
