President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.