The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
