Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
