Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
