The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
