President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
