Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
