Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
