President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
