President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
