President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
