Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
