President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
