President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
