President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
