The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
