President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
