The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
