Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist 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 the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
