Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
