The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
