President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
