President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
