Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
