Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
