President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
