Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
