Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
