President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
