Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
