The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
