Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
