The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
