President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
