President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
