Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
