President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
