The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
