President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
