The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
