President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
