Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
