President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
