The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
