Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
