President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
