President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
