President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
