Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
