President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
