The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
