President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
