The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
