President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
