President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
