President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
