Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed 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 significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
