Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
