President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
