The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
