The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
