President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
