Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
