The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
