Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
