Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
