President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
