The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
