President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
