Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
