President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
