Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
