President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
