President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
