The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
