President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
