Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
