President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
