President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
