Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
