President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions 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.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
