President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
