The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
