The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," 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 turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
