President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
