Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
