Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
