The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
