President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
