The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
