The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
