Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
