Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
