The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
