Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
