Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization 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 eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
