Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
