President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
