Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
