Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
