Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
