Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
