President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
