Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
