President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
