President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
