Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
