The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
