The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
