President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
