Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
