President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
