President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
