President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
