The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
