Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
