Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
