President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
