Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
