Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
