Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
