The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
