President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
