President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
