President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
