President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
