The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
