The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
