Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
