President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
