Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
