President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
