President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
