President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
