President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
