President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
