President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
