President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
