President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
