Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
