President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
