Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
