President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
