Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
