The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
