The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
