President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
