The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
