President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
