The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
