Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
