President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
