Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
