The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
