President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
