President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
