Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
