Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
