Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
