Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez 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 rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
