Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
