President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
