The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
