President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
