President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
