President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
