The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
