Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
