Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
