President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
