Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
