Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
