President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
