President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
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 connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
