Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
