President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
