The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
