Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
