The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
