President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
