Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
