Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
