President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
