President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
