President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader 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.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
