Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
