The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
