The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group 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 Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
