The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
