The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
