Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
