Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
