President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
