President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
