Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
