President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
