The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
