President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
