President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
