President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar military action against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
