President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
