President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
