President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
