The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including 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 following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 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 a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
