Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
