Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
