Trump sends fierce warning to Colombias president | Political News

President Donald Trump issued a warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro as tensions between the 2 nations continue to escalate. 

Speaking to reporters, Trump said that Petro is “next” on the White House’s record of alleged drug trafficking suspects to take away from energy. Initially, Trump said he “really thought too much about” eradicating Petro from energy.

Now, it appears the president has modified his thoughts concerning the chief. “Colombia is producing a lot of drugs,” Trump told reporters.

“So he better wise up or he’ll be next. He’ll be next soon,” he added. “I hope he’s listening; he’s going to be next.”

The feedback from the president mark a major escalation of Trump’s threats against the Colombian chief. During a dialog with Politico this week, Trump teased that he deliberate on increasing his anti-drug trafficking operation to both Mexico and Colombia.

Previously, Petro slammed Trump, stating, “To threaten our sovereignty is to declare war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.”

The Colombian commander-in-chief also prolonged an invitation for his American counterpart to observe the nation’s dismantling of drug services firsthand.

While Trump has made his emotions on Petro very clear, it’s probably that the president might get his want without having to resort to violence. Politico reported that the workplace of the Colombian chief is term-limited and the nation is scheduled to maintain elections in May.

For the last few months, the president has concentrated his efforts on Venezuela. Since September, the White House has allegedly approved the systematic strikes of alleged drug trafficking boats leaving the nation and constructed up a huge navy buildup.

Rising tensions

The strikes have been a concentrated effort to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to depart workplace. On Wednesday, U.S. Navy forces intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

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Sources close to the matter told Bloomberg that the seizure of the boat will make it a lot more durable for Venezuela to export its oil and will consequence in other shippers considering twice about loading their product on their cargo freighters. Most Venezuelan exports are despatched to China through intermediaries, it was reported.

The Pentagon has also performed a position in making use of strain by conducting more than 20 strikes against the alleged drug-trafficking vessels. As a consequence of the assaults, more than 80 people have been killed.

According to reviews, the president has floated the thought of initiating strikes on land, while ominously including that Maduro’s “days are numbered.” In flip, the Venezuelan authorities has painted the U.S. authorities’s motion as a determined grab for the nation’s oil reserve.