President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
