President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
