The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
