The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
