Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
