The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
