President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
