President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
