President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
