Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
