Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
