Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
