Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
