President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
