President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
