Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
