The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
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 strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
