The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
