Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
