Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
