The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
