Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
