The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
