Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
