Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
