Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.