President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.