The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
