Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
