The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
