President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
