President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
