Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
