President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.