President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela 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.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
