President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
