The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
