Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
