The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady 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, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
