The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
