President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
