Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
