Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.