President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
