The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking 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 in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
