President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
