President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
