The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
