Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
