Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
