President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
