Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
