President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
