Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
