Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
