The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
