The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
