Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
