President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
