President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
