President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
