Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
