Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
