Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
