Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
