President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
