Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
