President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
