Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
