President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.