Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
