President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
