Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
