President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
