Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
