President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
