President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
