Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
