Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
