Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
