President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
