The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
