President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
