The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
