President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
