President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
