President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
